New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘SAKIMP029’

ABSTRACT

A New Guinea  Impatiens  plant particularly distinguished by having a magenta flower color, strong root system and a vigorous growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Impatiens hybrida hort.

Variety denomination: ‘SAKIMP029’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises of a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens, botanically known as Impatiens hybrida hort, and referred to by the variety name ‘SAKIMP029’. Line ‘SAKIMP029’ originated from a controlled cross between the female Impatiens line ‘NE-5331’, an unpatented proprietary Impatiens breeding line with a salmon flower color and the male Impatiens line ‘NH-312’, an unpatented proprietary Impatiens breeding line with a red flower color in Misato, Japan.

In June 2008, the female parent line ‘NE-5331’ and male parent line ‘NH-312’ were crossed and a population of F₁ plants was created having magenta flower color, strong root system and a vigorous habit . The F₁ plants were evaluated in Misato, Japan in an open field trial. The criteria for plant selection included a red flower color, strong root system and a vigorous habit. At the completion of the trial, one single-plant selection was made and vegetatively propagated. From May 2010 to August 2010, the selection was evaluated in an open field in Misato, Japan. The selection subsequently was named ‘SAKIMP029’ and found to have its unique characteristics reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual vegetative propagation in Salinas, Calif.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

-   -   1. Magenta flower color;     -   2. Strong root system; and     -   3. Vigorous habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This Impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photographs are of a four-month-old plant grown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions in the spring of 2013. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

FIG. 2 shows the mature inflorescence of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘SAKIMP029’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Salinas, Calif. Data was collected on plants grown one month from transplant in 8-inch pots from rooted cuttings under greenhouse conditions in Salinas, Calif. in the spring of 2013. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition (2001).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Balsaminaceae.         -   Botanical.—Impatiens interspecific cross (Impatiens hybrida             hort).         -   Common.—Impatiens.         -   Designation.—‘SAKIMP029’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens plant line ‘NE-5331’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens plant line ‘NH-312’             (unpatented). -   Growth:     -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 4 weeks.         -   Time to initiate roots.—2 weeks.         -   Rooting habit.—Vigorous.         -   Root type.—Fibrous.         -   Root color.—RHS 155A (White).         -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—The terminal 1.0             to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The             vegetative cuttings were propagated in five to six weeks.             The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a             1:9 solution of DIP 'N GROW (1 solution: 9 water) a root             inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the             cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays             having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based             growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from             overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient             roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and             grown in 6-inch plastic pots in a glass greenhouse located             in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based growing             medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10%             phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or every             other day by overhead irrigation. Pots were top-dressed with             a dry, slow release fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10%             phosphorus and 18% potassium. The typical average air             temperature was 24° C.         -   Time to bloom from propagation.—6 to 8 weeks. -   Plant description:     -   -   Habit.—Compact.         -   Life cycle.—Annual.         -   Height (from soil line to top of foliage).—26.0 cm.         -   Height (from soil to first node).—2.0 cm.         -   Spread.—40.0 cm.         -   Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as temperature             is above 5° C.         -   Temperature tolerances.—Plants observed to continue             flowering in a temperature range of 5° C. to 36° C. Plants             can withstand high heat and humidity. -   Branches:     -   -   General.—Circular cross-section, smooth.         -   Number of branches.—6 main branches Length of branches: 6.0             cm.         -   Diameter of branches.—1.0 cm.         -   Length from soil to first node.—2.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—2.0 cm.         -   Color of branches.—RHS 59A (Red-Purple).         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Texture.—Smooth. -   Stems:     -   -   General.—Circular cross-section, smooth.         -   Stem length.—13.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—5.0 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 59A (Red-Purple).         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Anthocyanin color.—Absent. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled with up to 5 leaves per node, opposite             if only two leaves at one node.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate, curled.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—Upper vein color: RHS 59A (Red-Purple).             Lower vein color: RHS 59C (Red-Purple).         -   Variegation.—Absent.         -   Surface appearance (both surfaces).—Dull, glabrous.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Length.—11.0 cm.         -   Width.—4.5 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Closest to but darker than RHS 147A             (Yellow-Green). Lower surface: RHS 147B (Yellow-Green).         -   Petiole.—Length: 1.5 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Color: RHS 59A             (Red-Purple). Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Medium.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Flowers:     -   -   Total number of flowers per node.—2 to 3 in bloom.         -   Total number of flower per plant.—Approximately 70 in bloom.         -   Inflorescence type.—Single flower with spur.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—14 days.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Pedicel.—Absent. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Bud surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Bud length.—1.5 cm.         -   Bud diameter.—1.0 cm.         -   Bud shape.—Deltoid, longitudinal cross-section.         -   Bud color.—RHS 60A (Red-Purple). -   Peduncle:     -   -   Peduncle length.—5.0 cm.         -   Peduncle diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Peduncle color.—RHS 59B (Red-Purple).         -   Peduncle texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Strength.—Medium. -   Corolla:     -   -   Shape.—Roughly circular with 5 radial petals; rotate and             stellate.         -   Diameter.—6.0 cm.         -   Depth.—1.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Shape: Obcordate. Apex: Emarginate (cleaved).             Margin: Entire. Base: Attenuate. Pubescence: Glabrous.             Length: 3.0 cm. Width: 4.0 cm. Color: Upper: Closest to but             brighter than RHS N74A (Red-Purple). Lower: RHS N74A             (Red-Purple). Eye zone: RHS 59A (Red-Purple). -   Spur:     -   -   Shape.—Tubular; curved downward.         -   Length.—5.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 61A (Red-Purple).         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Degree of curvature.—Medium. -   Calyx:     -   -   Arrangement.—Composed of 2 sepals.         -   Sepals.—Shape: Lanceolate, curled. Base: Obtuse. Apex:             Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture (both surfaces): Smooth,             glabrous. Color: RHS 60B (Red-Purple). Length: 1.5 cm.             Diameter: 0.5 cm. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen number.—5.         -   Stamen form.—Fused; split into 4 lobes.         -   Stamen color.—Anther color: RHS 155A (White). Filament             color: RHS 61A (Red-Purple).         -   Pollen color.—RHS 155D (White).         -   Pollen amount.—Abundant.         -   Ovary.—Parietal.         -   Ovary surface color.—RHS 187A (Greyed-Purple).         -   Pistil number.—1.         -   Style color.—RHS 155A (White).         -   Seed production.—Absent. -   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘SAKIMP029’ is a new and unique variety of Impatiens owing to its magenta flower color, strong root system and a vigorous growth habit. ‘SAKIMP029’ is distinguished from its parents mainly by flower color as shown in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘SAKIMP029’ ‘NE-5331’ ‘NH-312’ Flower color Magenta Salmon Red

‘SAKIMP029’ is a new and unique variety of Impatiens owing to its magenta flower color, strong root system and a vigorous growth habit. ‘SAKIMP029’ is most similar to the commercial Impatiens ‘SAKIMP026’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,321); however there are differences in the flower color as described in the table below (color references are to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 4th edition):

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘SAKIMP029’ ‘SAKIMP026’ Petal color, upper RHS N74A (Red-Purple) RHS 40A (Red) surface Petal color, lower RHS N74A (Red-Purple) RHS 50B (Red) surface Spur color RHS 61A (Red-Purple) RHS 53D (Red) 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens hybrid plant as shown and described herein. 